Chandigarh, 26 May (H.S.): A rape case has been registered against Saini S. Johar, the production designer of the film “Dhurandhar,” at Chandigarh’s Sector-17 police station following allegations made by a young woman. The complainant alleged that the accused called her to a five-star hotel, raped her, assaulted her, and wrongfully confined her.

The woman further claimed that a suspicious intoxicating substance was mixed in her drink, after which her condition deteriorated. Police registered an FIR on April 21, 2026, after conducting a preliminary inquiry, though the matter came to light publicly only on Monday evening.

According to officials, the Sector-17 police had arrested the accused after the FIR was lodged, but he was later granted bail by a district court.

As per police records, the complainant is currently resides in the chandigarh, while her permanent address is in New Delhi. The accused, meanwhile, is stated to be a resident of Oberoi Spring Building in Andheri West, Mumbai.

The FIR has reportedly been registered under Sections 74, 79, 123, and 126(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

In her complaint, the woman stated that she was studying at the Government College of Art in Sector-10, Chandigarh, in 2025. Through a teacher, her biodata reportedly reached the team of the film “Dhurandhar,” following which Saini S. Johar hired her as an Assistant Art Director on September 2, 2025. She alleged that the accused introduced himself as her mentor.

According to the complaint, four to five days after work on the project began, the accused called her to a hotel room in Sector-17 under the pretext of discussing work. Initially, she believed it would be a team meeting, but later discovered that no other team members had been invited.

The complainant alleged that on the night of September 10, 2025, she reached the hotel room around 8:30 pm, where the accused pressured her into consuming alcohol. Within minutes of drinking it, she began feeling dizzy and unwell.

She further alleged that the accused touched her inappropriately on the pretext of teaching her dance moves. As her condition worsened and she vomited multiple times, he allegedly prevented her from leaving the room and raped her. The woman also accused him of physically assaulting her when she resisted. Police said the investigation into the case is ongoing.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH